Toy piano



. April 26, 1927.

G. H. ECKSTEIN TOY PIANO Filed Aug. 18. 1924 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 'III/IIIIII'IIII I.

26, 1927. 1526275 G. H. ECKSTEIN TOY PIANO Filed 1924 2 Sheets-Shah: 2

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGE H. ECKSTEIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TOY PIANO.

Application filed August 18, 1924. SeriaLNo. 732,736.

The objects of the invention are to provide a toy piano with a detachable and interchangeable set of music discs, enabling it to play a variety of tunes, and

5 increase its desirability and range of use fulness.

To accomplish this result the piano keys are made to engage a ratchet bar common to all of them, and a pivotally supported 10 music disc is provided with a ratchet edge, which is engaged by the bar and revolved through apredetermined distance, when each key is de ressed.

Upon the di c are positioned projecting 15 points which engage with a musical comb,

and produce the desired musical notes.

The disc is preferably formed of sheet metal and the projecting points are integrally formed by punching them from the 20 body of the metal.

The center of the disc is punched or bored to form an opening for the introduction of the shaft upon which the disc revolves, and this construct-ion permits the disc to be readily assembled with a punched sheet metal bracket, which is attached to the walls of the piano casing, thus providing parts that may be produced quickly in large numbers, at a slight initial cost. As many tunes may be played upon a single disc as there are groups of points thereon, representing notes in the musical scale.

The invention comprises the rotatable music disc, provided with groups of points arranged to engage consecutively with the points of the music comb, and mechanism operatively connected with the movements of the keys of a piano for rotating said disc, to bring the points thereon into engagement with the music comb adjacent thereto.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, is a transverse section of the piano showing the music disc; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the rear side of the music disc and support; Fig. 4t is a similar view of the front side thereof; Fig. 5 is a plan of one side of the disc enlarged, showing the musical rotation for Home Sweet Home, arranged in spaced points thereon; Fig. 6 is a transverse sect-ion of a portion of the disc; Fig.

thus

7 is a perspective of the vibratable ratchet bar common to all of the piano keys.

In these views, 1 is thepiano casing, one wall, 2, of which is removable for the introduction or removal of the music disc 8. This disc is pivoted upon a shaft 1 mounted upon the sheet metal, horizontal bracket 5, which is provided with lugs. 6 and 7, that are attached to the walls of the piano casing. The bracket is slotted at 8 for the introduction and guidance of the disc. and the music comb 9 is attached thereto at one side of the center of the disc, and on the plane of horizontal diameter of the disc.

The edge of the disc is provided with ratchet teeth 10, 10, and the disc is revolved with a step by step movement by means of the pawl 11, upon the swinging bar 12, which extends over the key board of the piano and is lifted in turn by each key K, as it is the body of the disc, thus making it possible to manufacture the disc in quantity at a low cost of production.

These points are so spaced over the surface of the disc as to engage with predetermined points of the music comb, and produce musical notes forming a tune as the disc is revolved.

As many groups of points may be pro vided upon the disc as may be convenient to enable the operator to play more than one tune upon one disc, and a variety of tunes may be played on the same piano by furnishing a number of music discs, having different music scores or notations developed thereon.

Having described the invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a piano, a music disc provided with spaced projecting picks upon one face thereof, a keyboard, a swinging bar mounted to extend thereover, said bar being provided with a pawl, and the circumferential edge of said disc being provided with ratchet teeth for engagement by said pawl.

2. In a toy piano, a music disc provided with spaced picks upon one side thereof and a ratchet edge, a pivotal support therefor, a key board, a pawl engageable with said ratchet edge, a member for operat ing said pawl, said member to be actuated all the keys in said key board, and a music comb positioned in the path of said picks.

3. In a toy piano, at picker disc, a key board and mechanism common to all the keys in said key board for rotating said disc through the space from one pick to the succeedingpick when one of said keys is dcpressed.

at. In a toy piano, a casing, a bracket therein provided with a slot, a music disc rotatabiy mounted in the slot in said bracket, said disc being provided with spaced projecting picks upon one face and a music comb mounted upon said bracket in the path of said picks.

5. In a device of the character described, a music disc provided with spaced picks projecting from its face and having ratchet teeth about its periphery, a music comb to be engaged by said picks, a keyboard, a movable bar extending across said keyboard and actuated by movement of any of the keys thereof. and a pawl carried by said bar to engage the ratchet teeth of said disc to rotate the same when a key is depressed.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 14th day of June, 1924.

GEORGE H. ECKSTEIN. 

